Good news for flyers! BCAS asks airlines to deliver baggage within 30 minutes of flight landing

New Delhi: The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has directed seven Indian carriers, including Air India, Indigo, SpiceJet, and Vistara, to ensure that baggage is delivered to passengers within 30 minutes of the landing of a flight at airports.

The airlines have been asked to comply with the direction within 10 days by February 26, 2024. An official said BCAS on February 16 wrote letters to seven airlines, including Air India, Indigo, Akasa, SpiceJet, Vistara, Air India Express Connect, and Air India Express, to implement the required measures to ensure that delivery of the last baggage is made within 30 minutes as per the service quality requirements.

BCAS has been monitoring the time of arrival of baggage at belts at six major airports since January 2024. Ever since it started the exercise, the baggage delivery time at these airports has improved but still not reached the desired level, in line with the requirement.

"The mandates require the first bag to arrive at the baggage belt within 10 minutes of shutting off the aircraft engine and the last bag within 30 minutes of the same," the official said. While BCAS is keeping track of baggage arrival patterns at six airports, it has asked airlines to ensure that the mandated level of service is achieved at all airports in the country.